Ferris State's Vander Laan Named 2014 #GLIACFB 'Player of the Year', All-GLIAC Awards Announced
Scroll down the release to view 2014 GLIAC Football All-Conference Teams
BAY CITY, Mich. -- Ferris State junior quarterback Jason Vander Laan was named 2014 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Football 'Player of the Year' today (Nov. 19) to conclude all-conference voting conducted by the league's coaches. Lake Erie's junior running back Anthony Bilal claimed 'Offensive Back of the Year' honors, while Ferris State's senior Jacob VanderKlok took home the 'Offensive Lineman of the Year' award. On the opposite side of the ball, Wayne State senior linebacker Nores Fradi was selected 'Defensive Back of the Year' along with Michigan Tech senior Nelson Wienke who was tabbed 'Defensive Lineman of the Year' for the playoff-bound Huskies. Ashland quarterback Travis Tarnowski was labeled 'Freshman of the Year' after an impressive debut season with the Eagles and Ferris State's Tony Annese was named 'Coach of the Year' after he orchestrated a breakout season for the Bulldogs.
One of the favorites for the Division II Harlon Hill Trophy, Jason Vander Laan quarterbacked the Bulldogs to the school's first-ever 11-0 regular season. This season, Vander Laan has compiled a squad-best 1,328 rushing yards with 19 scores while completing 164-of-239 passes for a career-high 2,140 yards and 27 touchdowns. He ranks as the nation's top rushing quarterback at all levels and is tops in the country in passing efficiency (177.8) along with points responsible for this year (276). Behind Vander Laan's play as the signal caller, Ferris State presently leads the nation in total offense (533.5 ypg.) and is second in scoring offense (47.8 ppg.) along with fourth in rushing (334.5 ypg). The Bulldogs compiled 700 yards or more in three games and have set a school single-season scoring record with 526 total points heading into the playoffs. The three-year starter, who also became the school's all-time leader in total offense and career rushing yards this fall, was also a Capital One Academic All-District IV First Team honoree and is the only active quarterback in college football at any level with both 50+ passing and rushing TD's in his career.
Anthony Bilal broke several school records en route to becoming the Storm's first 2,000-yard rusher. Bilal ended the year tied for the lead nationally in rushing touchdowns with 29 and second in rushing yards with 2,091 on only 254 carries. Against Ohio Dominican University, Ferris State University and Michigan Tech University - the three teams that qualified for the NCAA Playoffs- Bilal totaled 626 yards and six touchdowns. His 270 yards in the final week against Michigan Tech set a school record which he set earlier in the season. Against Walsh University, Bilal scored six rushing touchdowns, which tied the GLIAC record for most in a game. Overall, Bilal rushed for 200 or more yards in six games this season and scored three or more touchdowns in five games.
The leader of a dominant Bulldog offensive line, Jacob VanderKlok's play helped Ferris State to the school's first-ever 11-0 regular-season along with FSU's first GLIAC Championship since 1999. One of two seniors starters up front, VanderKlok helped pave the way for a Ferris State unit that currently leads the nation in total offense (533.5 ypg.) and is second in scoring (47.8 ppg.) and fourth in rushing (334.5 ypg.). His efforts helped Ferris State rack up 700 yards or more three times this year, including a school single-game record 767 yards against Tiffin. The Bulldogs also set school game records for most points (75) and rushing yards (555) in 2014 en route to FSU's first NCAA Playoff appearance since 1996. Additionally, this season Ferris State has compiled a school single-season record 526 points and a program-best 3,679 rushing yards along with a record 5,869 total yards. VanderKlok's play at left tackle has not only allowed standout quarterback Jason Vander Laan to rank among the nation's leading rushers, but also allowed him to lead the country in passing efficiency.
Wayne State's Nores Fradi started all 11 games at outside linebacker in 2014 for the Warriors and led the nation with 28.5 tackles for loss during the regular season. He tied for the GLIAC lead with 8.5 sacks, while finishing with exactly 100 tackles (73-27) on the year. His 70 yards lost on sacks led the conference as did his 113 TFL yards and 73 solo tackles. Fradi tied-for-third in the league in forced fumbles with three, while helping the WSU defense rank fifth in scoring defense (21.4 ppg), fourth in total defense (338.5), first in sacks (32) and second in fumble recoveries (13) among GLIAC schools. His 6.6 solo tackles per game ranked ninth nationally, and at the conclusion of the regular season, Fradi was first among active D-II players and 11th among all active NCAA football players with 51.5 career tackles for loss (43-17). Fradi's selection as GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year is the third in the last seven years for WSU joining Dante Dunn (2008) and Jeremy Jones (2011).
Michigan Tech's Nelson Wienke posted 44 total tackles in the regular season to anchor Tech's defense, which finished second in the GLIAC in both scoring defense and total defense. The senior has 27 solo tackles and 17 assists in his final campaign, which will continue Saturday (Nov. 22) with an NCAA Regional Playoff matchup with Angelo State at Sherman Field. Wienke notched team highs of 11.0 tackles and 4.5 sacks; his 11 tackles for loss accounted for 64 lost yards for opposing offenses. The Upper Peninsula native is a three-time All-GLIAC honoree with 18.0 career sacks, fourth-most in school history. Wienke has been a part of 29 wins and just 12 losses in his career.
Ashland's Travis Tarnowski started all 10 games at quarterback for the Eagles, and finished with an 8-2 record. He was 168-for-288 (58.3 percent) for 2,167 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions, and was sacked just eight times. Tarnowski ranked fifth in the GLIAC in passing attempts and passing yards, was tied for fifth in completions, sixth in completion percentage, tied for sixth in touchdown passes and was the third least-intercepted quarterback among conference qualifiers. His five touchdown passes at home against Northern Michigan tied the program record and set a new Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field standard, and his 374 passing yards at home against Lake Erie also set a new AU home stadium mark.
In his third season at the Ferris State helm, Tony Annese has been the mastermind behind the resurrection of the Bulldog program. This fall, he led Ferris State to the school's first-ever 11-0 regular-season, the school's first GLIAC Championship since 1999 and FSU's first NCAA Playoff appearance since 1996. The Bulldogs have won a nation-leading 15-straight games dating back to last year, which ranks as the third-longest streak in all of college football and have won 19 of their last 21 contests overall under Annese's direction. The veteran coach has posted a 26-7 mark in three seasons at Ferris State and led the turnaround of a squad that finished winless in GLIAC play only five years ago to an unbeaten showing this fall. This year, the Bulldogs' offensive unit also rolled up school records for total points (526), rushing (3,679) and total offense (5,869) with Annese directing the action. Ferris State beat archrival Grand Valley State for the third-straight year and beat a pair of unbeaten and highly-ranked league foes on the road in back-to-back weeks with wins at Ohio Dominican and Michigan Tech. FSU has won at least eight games in two-straight seasons for the first time since 1995-96 and became the first GLIAC North squad to finish unbeaten in conference action since 2008 this fall.
2014 GLIAC Football Postseason Awards |
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Player of the Year
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Jason Vander Laan |
Ferris State University |
Junior QB |
Offensive Back of the Year |
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Anthony Bilal |
Lake Erie |
Junior RB |
Defensive Back of the Year |
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Nores Fradi |
Wayne State |
Senior LB |
Defensive Lineman of the Year |
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Nelson Wienke |
Michigan Tech |
Senior DE |
Offensive Lineman of the Year |
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Jacob VanderKlok |
Ferris State |
Senior OL |
Freshman of the Year |
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Travis Tarnowski |
Ashland |
Freshman QB |
Coach of the Year |
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Tony Annese |
Ferris State |
Third Season |
2014 All-GLIAC Football First Team |
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Name | School | Year | Pos. | Hometown/High School |
Jason Vander Laan | Ferris State | Sr. | QB | Frankfort, Ill. / Chicago Christian |
Anthony Bilal | Lake Erie | Jr. | RB | Painesville, Ohio / Riverside |
Desmond Martin | Wayne State | Sr. | RB | Redford, Mich. / Thurston |
Anthony Taylor | Ashland | Sr. | RB | Arlington, Va. / Washington-Lee |
Trent Brodbeck | Wayne State | So. | TE | Toledo, Ohio / St. John's Jesuit |
Lloyd Henry | Findlay | Sr. | WR | Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights |
Jamie Potts | Grand Valley State | Jr. | WR | Muskegon, Mich. / Oakridge |
Daniel Piko | Ashland | Sr. | WR | Oak Lawn, Ill. / Marist Academy |
Dez Stewart | Ohio Dominican | Jr. | WR | Cincinnati, Ohio / Walnut Hills |
James Triplett | Ashland | Sr. | OL | Newark, Ohio / Newark |
Frank Vruwink | Michigan Tech | Jr. | OL | Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. / Lincoln |
Perrin Cunningham | Ohio Dominican | Sr. | OL | Cincinnati, Ohio / Winton Woods |
Jake VanderKlok | Ferris State | Sr. | OL | Caledonia, Mich. / Grand Rapids South Christian |
Jim Walsh | Grand Valley State | Jr. | OL | Howell, Mich. / Howell |
Nate Theaker | Wayne State | Jr. | OL | White Lake, Mich. / Lakeland |
Matt Judon | Grand Valley State | Jr. | DL |
West Bloomfield, Mich. / West Bloomfield |
Sydney Omameh | Ohio Dominican | Jr. | DL | Columbus, Ohio / Westerville North |
Nelson Wienke | Michigan Tech | Sr. | DE |
Kingsford, Mich. |
Justin Zimmer | Ferris State | Jr. | DE |
Greenville, Mich. / Greenville |
Chase Hoobler | Ashland | Sr. | DL |
Orrville, Ohio / Indiana |
Gerren DuHart | Wayne State | Sr. | CB | Toledo, Ohio / Central Catholic |
Billy Eakins | Ohio Dominican | Jr. | DB | Pickerington, Ohio / Pickerington Central |
Jamaris Brown | Walsh | Sr. | DB | Fort Myers, Fla. / Lehigh |
DeShawn Nelson | Michigan Tech | Sr. | DB | Kentwood, Mich. / East |
Troy Smith | Ferris State | Jr. | CB | Indianapolis, Ind. / Pike |
Cody Bloom | Ashland | Sr. | LB | Napoleon, Ohio / Napoleon |
Nores Fradi | Wayne State | Sr. | LB | Dearborn Heights, Mich. / Dearborn |
Austin Osborne | Ohio Dominican | Jr. | LB | Jackson, Ohio / Jackson |
Michael Fisher | Northwood | So. | LB | Rochester, Mich. / Adams |
Tanner Wells | Lake Erie | Sr. | LB | Carrollton, Texas / Parish Episcopal |
Brent Wahle | Ohio Dominican | Jr. | PK | Pataskala, Ohio / Bishop Hartley |
Chris Picano | Grand Valley State | Sr. | P | Brighton, Mich. / Brighton |
Jamaris Brown | Walsh | Sr. | KR | Fort Myers, Fla. / Lehigh |
2014 All-GLIAC Football Second Team |
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Name | School | Year | Pos. | Hometown/High School |
Tyler Scarlett | Michigan Tech | Sr. | QB | Clarkston, Mich. / Clarkston |
Brandon Schoen | Ohio Dominican | Jr. | RB | Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy Orange |
Charlie Leffingwell | Michigan Tech | Sr. | RB | Midland, Mich. / Midland |
Jahaan Brown | Ferris State | Fr. | RB | East Grand Rapids, Mich. / East Grand Rapids |
Jerad Butler | Ohio Dominican | Jr. | TE | Nevada, OH / Wynford |
Brandon Cowie | Michigan Tech | So. | WR | West Bend, Wis. / West |
Michael Johnson | Wayne State | Sr. | WR | Detroit, Mich. / Clintondale / Western Michigan |
Marcus Tucker | Northern Michigan | Jr. | WR | Flint, Mich. / Grand Blanc / Mott CC |
Shakur Sanders | Ferris State | So. | WR | Kentwood, Mich./Ottawa Hills |
Corbin Jackimowicz | Lake Erie | Sr. | OL | North Fort Myers, Fla. / North Fort Myers |
Chris Reaper | Findlay | Jr. | OL | Toledo, Ohio / Whitmer |
Justin Glover | Ferris State | Sr. | OL | Grand Rapids, Mich. / Union |
Bruce Tebelman | Michigan Tech | Sr. | OL | Dearborn, Mich./Edsel Ford |
Brandon Revenberg | Grand Valley State | Jr. | OL | Essex, Ontario / Essex District |
Ben Copher | Ohio Dominican | Jr. | OL | Dayton, Ohio / Valley View |
Jake Carrizales |
Wayne State |
Fr. | DE |
Hamler, Ohio / Patrick Henry |
Isiah Dunning |
Grand Valley State |
Sr. | DL |
Grand Rapids, Mich. / Ravenna |
Di'Andre Harrison | Ohio Dominican | Jr. | DL | Columbus, Ohio / Centennial |
Corey Stone | Ferris State | Sr. | DT | Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson |
Skyler Parks | Walsh | Jr. | DL | Canton, Ohio / McKinley |
Deonté Hurst
|
Grand Valley State | Sr. | DB | Kentwood, Mich. / East Kentwood |
Harold Jones | Findlay | Sr. | DB | Columbus, Ohio / Horizon Science Academy |
Ayrn Curtis | Northwood | So. | DB | Detroit, Mich. / West Bloomfield |
Demarco Donaldson | Malone | Sr. | DB | Southfield, Mich. / Grand Valley State University |
Kyle Tomko | Ashland | Jr. | DB | Independence, Ohio / Padua |
Cameron Trudell | Walsh | Sr. | LB | Columbus, Ohio / Walnut Ridge |
Chris Harvey | Ashland | Sr. | LB | Columbus, Ohio / Walnut Ridge |
Anthony Darkangelo | Ferris State | So. | LB | Detroit, Mich. / Catholic Central |
Warren Shields | Ohio Dominican | Jr. | LB | Richwood, Ohio / North Union |
Paul Kuoppala | Michigan Tech | Jr. | LB | Iron Mountain, Mich. |
Val Showers | Wayne State | Sr. | KR | Detroit, Mich. / Crockett / Central Michigan |
Paul Graham | Wayne State | Fr. | PK | Commerce Township, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's |
Trevor Bermingham | Ferris State | So. | P | Addison, Ill. / Addison |
2014 All-GLIAC Honorable Mention Team |
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Ashland | |||
Name | Year | Pos. | Hometown/High School |
Vance Settlemire | So. | RB | Findlay, Ohio / Findlay |
Travis Tarnowski | Fr. | QB | Broadview Heights, Ohio / North Royalton |
Logan Slavinski | Sr. | TE | Bellville, Ohio / Clear Fork |
Adam Wallace | So. | DL | Sterling, Ohio / Norwayne |
James Ester | Jr. | DB | Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights |
Eric Schwieterman | Sr. | DB | Norwalk, Ohio / St. Paul |
Ferris State | |||
A.J. McEwen |
Sr. | CB | East Grand Rapids, Mich. / East GR |
Carlton Johnson |
Sr. | DE | Muskegon, Mich. / Muskegon |
Darnell Morris |
Sr. | LB | Detroit, Mich. / Inkster |
Adam Bennett |
Jr. | OL | Romeo, Mich. / Romeo |
Cody Dingeldey |
Jr. | OL | L'Anse, Mich. / L'Anse |
Bryan Bell |
Jr. | OL | Walled Lake, Mich. / Central |
Findlay |
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Verlon Reed |
Sr. | QB | Columbus, Ohio / Marion-Franklin |
Zach Matracia |
Sr. | LB | Greenfield, Ohio / McClain |
Myles Alexander |
So. | LB | Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid |
Tyler Bugeja |
So. | K | Royal Palm Beach, Fla. / Royal Palm Beach |
Chauncey Bridges |
Fr. | RB | Farmington Hills, Mich. / North Farmington |
Alex Irastorza |
Sr. | P |
Miami, Fla. / Christopher Columbus |
Grand Valley State | |||
Heath Parling | Sr. | QB | Plymouth, Mich. / Salem |
Chris Robinson | Sr. | RB | Ovid, Mich. / Ovid-Elsie |
Joe Wirth | Sr. | TE | Shelby Twp., Mich. / Utica Eisenhower |
Matt Mosley | Sr. | DL | Chicago, Ill. / Morgan Park |
DeVonté Jones
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Sr. | DB | St. Joseph, Mich. / St. Joseph |
Frank Boenzi | Sr. | DL | Geneva, Ill. / Geneva |
Hillsdale | |||
Matt Eltringham | Sr. | P | Loveland, Ohio / Loveland |
Tyler Jenks | Sr. | DL | Comstock Park, Mich. / Comstock Park |
Steve Mette | So. | K | Rockford, Mich. / Rockford |
Tim Moinet | Sr. | DB | St. Johns, Mich. / St. Johns |
Dan Pittman | Sr. | DB | Grand Rapids, Mich. / West Catholic |
Bryan Siegert | Sr. | DL | Clare, Mich. / Clare |
Lake Erie | |||
Tommy Jackson | Sr. | WR | Hubbard, Ohio / Hubbard |
Chris Higgins | Sr. | OL | Alliance, Ohio / Marlington |
Ben Miller | Sr. | OL | Archbold, Ohio / Archbold |
Ty Law | Sr. | DL | Madison, Ohio / Madison |
Maurice Hale | So. | DB | Columbus, Ohio / Beechcroft |
David Bojalad | Sr. | P | Saint Mary's, Pa. / Elk County Christian |
Malone | |||
Austin Cary | So. | DL | Loudonville, Ohio / Loudonville |
Lloyd Phillips | Sr. | DB | Pittsburgh, Pa. / West Liberty Univ. (WV) |
Fred Baker | Jr. | LB | Euclid, Ohio / Glenville |
Drew Bond | Sr. | TE | Mesa, Ariz. / Valley Christian |
Ronnie Beers | So. | RB | Canal Fulton, Ohio / Northwest |
Josh McLaughlin | Sr. | WR | Hanoverton, Ohio / United Local |
Michigan Tech | |||
Tanner Agen | Jr. | DL | Kaukauna, Wis. |
Cam Allen | Sr. | DL | Clare, Mich. |
Brett Gervais | Jr. | DB | Lake Linden, Mich. |
Josh Knoepke | Fr. | OL | Appleton, Wis. / Fox Valley Lutheran |
Garrett Mead | Sr. | K | Alpena, Mich. |
Jeremy Mims |
Sr. | DB | Novi, Mich. |
Northern Michigan | |||
Kyle Steuck | Jr. | OL | Green Bay, Wis. / West De Pere |
Shaye Brown | So. | QB | Fenton, Mich. / Linden |
Kelvin Smarwt | Sr. | WR | St. Petersburg, Fla. / Boca Ciega |
Trevor Kruzel | Sr. | DL | Boyne City, Mich/ Boyne City |
Jordan Adideran | Sr. | DL | Gwinn, Mich. / Gwinn |
Nick Krause | Sr. | LB | Gillett, Wis. / Gillett |
Northwood | |||
Mike Keith |
Jr. | LB | Roseville, Mich. / Warren De La Salle |
Ryan Spicuzzi |
Sr. | DB | Macomb, Mich. / Macomb-Dakota |
Brad Oxnevad |
Jr. | OL | Oak Park, Ill. / River Forest |
Jared Briguglio |
Jr. | RB | Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley |
Keegan Haggarty |
Jr. | K | Macomb, Mich. / Chippewa Valle |
Ron McNamara |
Sr. | DL |
Chicago, Ill. / St. Rita |
Ohio Dominican | |||
Cody Culbertson |
Jr. | DB |
Galloway, Ohio / Bishop Ready |
Mark Miller |
Sr. | QB |
Cincinnati, Ohio / Elder |
Da'Twane Harris |
Jr. | DB |
Cleveland, Ohio / Glenville Academic Campus |
Brad McCurdy |
Jr. | DB | Columbus, Ohio / Bishop Watterson |
Hunter Maynard |
Jr. | DL | Ashville, Ohio / Bishop Watterson |
Mike Koehlke |
Jr. | OL |
West Chester, Ohio / Bishop Fenwick |
Saginaw Valley State | |||
Murtada Jabbie | Sr. | DE | Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South |
Bryan Jones | Fr. | LB | Schoolcraft, Mich. / Schoolcraft |
Logan Hauserman | Sr. | OL | Circleville, Ohio / Logan Elm |
Will Schwarz | Sr. | DE | Troy, Mich. / Troy |
Bryan Fobbs | Jr. | WR | San Jose, Calif. / Valley Christian |
Jesse Somsel | Sr. | OL | Rockford, Mich. / Rockford |
Tiffin | |||
Antonio Pipkin | So. | QB | Gary, Ind. / Theo Bowman Academy |
Marcus Beaurem |
Sr. | WR | Detroit, Mich. / Sterling Hts. Stevenson |
Brandon Person |
Sr. | DB | Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids CC |
Carlton Watkins |
Sr. | DB | Medina, Ohio / Buckeye |
Mason Butler |
Fr. | OL | Malvern, Ohio / Minerva |
Terry Harper |
So. | LB | Columbus, Ohio / World Harvest Prep |
Walsh |
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Jerald Robinson |
Sr. | WR | Canton, Ohio / South |
Anthony Schrock |
Jr. | WR | Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth |
Zach Conlan |
Sr. | OL | Youngstown, Ohio / Ursuline |
Aaron Male |
So. | RB | Akron, Ohio / Ellet |
Justin Keith |
Sr. | RB | Canton, Ohio / South |
Tim Carter |
Sr. | P | Columbus, Ohio / Bishop Watterson |
Wayne State | |||
Zak Bielecki | Jr. | S | Macomb, Mich. / Lutheran North |
Ben Walker | Sr. | LT | Oxford, Mich. / Lake Orion |
Marcell Jones | Sr. | LB | Oak Park, Mich. / Detroit Mumford |
Justice Akuezue | Sr. | DE | Ypsilanti, Mich. / Ann Arbor Huron |
Sam Sillmon | Sr. | DT | Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King |
Ethan Walsh | Jr. | TE | Canton, Mich. / Salem |